The United States government has expressed concern over the recent tribunal decision on the Edo State governorship election.

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria said the ruling may have come from a process with problems.

In a message posted on the official X account of the U.S. Embassy on Friday, the diplomatic office said there were “serious lapses in the collation process” during the election. They added that civil society groups and election observers are also worried about these issues.

“Ambassador Mills reiterates his statement of September 24 that transparency and due process are crucial to maintaining public confidence in any democratic system.

“The United States reaffirms our commitment to supporting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the statement said.

There have been complaints following the September 21 governorship election in Edo. Some stakeholders have accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of election malpractice.

Three sisters from the same parents have reportedly died in their home after consuming poisoned egg sauce prepared by their stepmother.

The incident occurred in DSC Steel Town, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

The father of the three girls was nowhere to be found at the time of this report.

Their remains have been deposited in the mortuary, leaving many, including neighbors, in tears.

Meanwhile, the stepmother of the three girls has confessed to poisoning the egg sauce she gave them to eat last night.

According to her, she did not intend to kill them but only wanted to make them sick for a while because they refused to accept her as their stepmother.

It was learned that the stepmother was the best friend of the late mother of the three girls, who died a year ago.

It was also gathered that the stepmother, who had children with three different men (all of whom are now deceased), moved into the home of her late best friend and married her widowed husband less than a year ago.

Suspension: Court restrains Senate president, Kogi senator, others from speaking with media

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, yesterday responded to an allegation by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that he was involved in a plot to assassinate her.

The response from Akpabio came same day a Federal High Court under trial Justice Binta Nyako restrained both Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan as well as other named parties in the case before her to stop speaking to the press on their case. The restraining order issued by Justice Binta Nyako, was sequel to a complaint by Akpabio’s lawyer, Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had alleged at a rally she organised in her hometown on April 1, that Akpabio was working with a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to kill her.

However, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Eseme Eyibo, in Abuja, the Senate President described the Kogi Central Senator’s allegations as baseless and totally false.

Part of the statement read, “The Office of the President of the Senate strongly condemns the recent baseless, false and inflammatory accusation made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in which she falsely alleged that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio was involved in a plot to assassinate her.
“While speaking in Kogi State on April 1, 2025, the suspended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan recklessly and maliciously claimed that Senator Godswill Akpabio “recruited” former Governor Yahaya Bello to “assassinate her in Kogi State rather than in Abuja.”

“This outrageous accusation is not only false but a complete fabrication and deeply irresponsible and dangerous attempt to provoke public unrest, attract media attention, and discredit the person and office of the President of the Senate for ulterior motives.

“It is important to remind the public that this same individual had previously made an unsubstantiated accusation of sexual harassment against Senator Akpabio, a claim she seem to have abandoned without explanation.

“Having failed to gain traction with that narrative, she has now escalated her campaign of misinformation to a deadly and defamatory dimension.
“This pattern of deliberate falsehoods and manipulative theatrics reveals a troubling willingness to exploit public sensitivities through recurring victimhood narratives.

“It is a matter of public record that she has previously made assassination allegations against former Governor Yaya Bello and others in 2019 and 2023, along with multiple unsubstantiated claims of sexual harassment against other dignitaries.

“Her recurring persecution narrative and evident lying complex should not be weaponised to malign individuals or destroy hard-earned reputations.”
Furthermore, the statement noted that, “this latest reckless allegation is not occurring in isolation. Barely 24 hours later, on April 2, 2025, former Senator Elisha Abbo appeared on Arise Television to revive a previously withdrawn claim that Senator Akpabio “manipulated the judiciary” to secure his removal from the Senate.

“Nigerians will recall that Mr. Abbo, in 2023, publicly retracted this same accusation and tendered an apology after acknowledging that his claims were founded on incorrect assumptions.

“His removal from office was the outcome of a constitutionally grounded judicial decision by the Court of Appeal, which independently determined that he was not duly elected to represent Adamawa North.

“In a further twist, Mr. Abbo also alleged that he was denied his entitlements by the Senate President.

“This, too, is categorically false. Entitlements such as salaries and allowances are processed strictly through administrative and legal procedures.  The Senate President does not and cannot unilaterally approve or deny such requests. Any delays or rejections would have been based solely on due diligence and compliance with established protocols.”

According to the statement, “the timing, tone, and striking similarity of these coordinated attacks point clearly to a politically motivated smear campaign.
“These individuals, backed by undisclosed interests, appear united in a desperate effort to undermine the credibility of the Senate and its leadership and intended to distract from their own personal and political shortcomings and failings.

“Senator Godswill Akpabio remains undeterred. As a statesman devoted to national unity, institutional integrity, and the rule of law, he will not be distracted by malicious falsehoods or inflammatory rhetoric.

“Regardless of the necessity for legal redress, formal letters of demand, seeking immediate public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational harm, are underway to be served on both Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Mr Elisha Abbo.

“We call on the Nigerian public in particular and the International Community to reject these baseless and provocative narratives.
“The Senate, under Senator Akpabio’s leadership, remains focused on its constitutional mandate: to promote legislative excellence, safeguard democratic values, and deliver meaningful progress for the Nigerian people.”

Court Restrains Akpabio, Akpoti-Uduaghan, Others from Speaking with Media

Meanwhile, the restraining order issued yesterday by Justice Binta Nyako, was sequel to a complaint by Akpabio’s lawyer, Ogunwumiju, SAN.
The senior lawyer at yesterday’s proceedings had accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of going from one television house to another, granting press interviews on issues relating to her case, currently pending before the court.

Ogunwumiju added that the Kogi Central Senator had also been to the BBC and CNN to speak on the issue.

Reacting, Justice Nyako ordered that there shall be no press interviews by all parties and their lawyers as regard the subject matter of the case.
While observing that the case was sub-judice, she further barred parties and their lawyers from engaging in streaming of proceedings in the case on social media.
At the commencement of proceedings yesterday, plaintiff’s lawyer, Jibril Okutepa (SAN) told the court that the case was coming up for the first time,  having been transferred from another court, under  Justice Obiora Egwuatu.

He informed the court that parties had filed and exchanged all relevant documents, except one and prayed the court to grant a consolidated hearing of all pending applications along with the substantive suit.

According to the senior lawyer, time was of the essence because his client’s suspension was for a limited period, adding that Akpoti-Uduaghan was desirous of expeditious determination of the case.

Responding, the Clerk of the National Assembly represented by Mr. Charles Iyoila as well as Paul Daudu, SAN, who represented the Senate, did not object to Okutepa’s application that the substantive case should be heard with the objections raised by the defendants.

However, the application was opposed by Ogunwumiju and Umeh Kalu, SAN, representing the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct, Senator Neda Imasuem.

In a short ruling, Justice Nyako granted the application and held that the court would hear all pending applications, including preliminary objections along with the substantive suit. The judge subsequently adjourned till May 12 for hearing.

Listed as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, the President of the Senate and Senator Neda Imasuem (Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct).

Akpoti-Uduaghan had approached the court to challenge her investigation and subsequent suspension for six months over alleged misconduct.
Amongst others, the plaintiff claimed that she was not given fair hearing before her suspension by the Senate.

A bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba, in the Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State was triggered by a scavenger, Saturday PUNCH has gathered.

The explosion claimed the life of the scavenger and left three others injured.

Findings by Saturday PUNCH revealed that the scavenger was attempting to dismantle military-grade grenades with the intention of collecting them as part of the scrap metal he was searching for.

The scavenger, whose identity is yet to be known, was handling one of the grenades when it detonated, killing him instantly.

Three other individuals, whose names and addresses are also unknown, sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said, “At 13:30 hours on April 3, 2025, a distress call was received by the EOD unit based in Ikeja that there was a bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba. Our team of EOD-CBRN operatives was swiftly mobilised to the scene.

“On arrival, the team ensured the area was safe, and after a thorough inspection, it was discovered that the explosion was caused by military-grade grenades that had been tampered with by a scavenger who was trying to split one of them. Sadly, the scavenger lost his life at the scene, while three others were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.”

Hundeyin further confirmed that the scene was secured, photographed, and crucial evidence was collected for analysis.

“The deceased’s body has been moved to a public morgue for autopsy, and an investigation has been initiated. Further developments will be communicated,” he added.

Police in Benue State have rescued the passengers abducted on Thursday night near Otukpo.

In a statement issued Friday night, the spokesperson for Benue State command, Catherine Anene, said that police, in collaboration with members of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard, were able to rescue 14 kidnap victims.

Anene confirmed that the driver of the bus and a passenger died from gunshot wounds.

“The team launched a search for the kidnapped victims within the nearby forest immediately.

“On 4/4/2025 at about 1500hrs, they sighted the bandits in the forest and engaged them in a gun duel. The superior firepower of the police subdued them and they took to their heels, abandoning their captives.

“Unfortunately, they had inflicted matchet cuts on two of the victims before the rescue. Fourteen (14) victims were rescued and taken to the hospital, where one was confirmed dead and others are currently receiving treatment.”

In preparation for a befitting burial for the late renowned leader of the Ijaw Nation, Pa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, the Burial Committee paid a visit to suspended Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, at his private residence in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Led by Chairman Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, the delegation included National President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof Benjamin Okaba, among others.

The committee briefed Governor Fubara on the progress made so far in preparing for a successful burial ceremony.

Late Pa Clark was a respected leader and elder statesman who played a significant role in nation-building and the pursuit of social justice.

His contributions to the Ijaw Nation, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria as a whole are immeasurable.

Governor Fubara had earlier described Pa Clark as a quintessential leader who remained fearless in speaking against acts of injustice, leadership recklessness, and marginalization while propagating national unity.

The visit by the Burial Committee was described by the chairman of the burial committee, Lulu Briggs, as a significant step in ensuring that Pa Clark is given a burial ceremony that befits his status and contributions to the nation.

He noted that the committee’s efforts demonstrate the high esteem in which Pa Clark is held, and the ceremony is expected to be a celebration of his life and legacy.

Paul Chukwuma, a frontline governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has resigned from the party ahead of Saturday’s primary election in the state.

Chukwuma cited “unprogressive persons” in the state’s leadership of the party as reasons for his resignation.

“The problem has always been with the leaders in Anambra, the president is interested in fixing Nigeria and we will support him but we will not work with some unprogressive elements in Anambra,” he told journalists on Friday.

Chukwuma, who spoke from his home town in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area of the state, said he has handed his official resignation to the chairman of the party of his ward.

“My support and loyalty are 100 per cent for the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Our agenda is to connect Anambra to the centre.

“We want to have some time to prepare and ensure that we raise the five per cent we always give the president,” he added.

Meanwhile, another aspirant, Chukwuma Umeoji, stepped down from the race on Friday.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, announced Umeoji’s withdrawal in a statement.

The statement read in part, “An aspirant in tomorrow’s gubernatorial primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra state, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Umeoji has informed the Party of his decision to withdraw from the election.

“According to him, this decision was made in good faith following consultations with my supporters across the state.

“Our great Party thanks the Rt. Hon. Umeoji for his aspiration and dedicated support of the Party in Anambra state and nationally.

“It is our hope that Rt. Hon. Umeoji will do all in his power to support and work for the victory of the eventual gubernatorial flag bearer of our great Party in the November 8, 2025 Anambra state gubernatorial election.”

Umeoji’s withdrawal from the race leaves five remaining APC aspirants who purchased the forms, including Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Nicholas Ukachukwu, Onunkwo Johnbisco Obinna, Valentine Ozigbo, and Edozie Madu, to compete for the party’s ticket on Saturday.

Across Nigeria, chilling stories have emerged of hotel guests who checked into rooms, only to disappear without a trace—or worse, to be found mutilated. In the shadows of these horrific incidents, disturbing accounts suggest that hotel employees, driven by greed, coercion, or even direct complicity, play vital roles in aiding the murderers, either by unwittingly or intentionally facilitating such grisly crimes. VICTOR AYENI writes on the dark underbelly of Nigeria’s hospitality industry

The morning of March 21 began like any other when Pastor Sunday Ogofotha bade goodbye to his family and set out from his house in Lagos to his home state, Delta State.

A native of the Owhelogbo community in the Isoko North Local Government Area of the state, he had planned to attend his brother’s burial, which was scheduled to take place in the village the next day.

On arriving in Otowe late that day, the cleric lodged at Century Home Hotel in the Owhelogbo community and settled in for an evening of tranquility, hoping to wake up the next day to attend the burial event.

Sadly, that day never came, as Sunday did not make it out of the hotel alive.

The next day, as the Ogofotha family gathered for the burial service, Sunday was nowhere to be seen, and his phones were switched off.

By the second day, apprehension had crept in, and the family began to frantically call one another to inquire about the cleric’s whereabouts.

Fortunately, on Friday evening, Sunday had informed his wife of the name of the hotel where he was lodging and his room number — a piece of information that ultimately exposed the evil minds that orchestrated the cleric’s murder.

Uncovering a gruesome murder

Some worried family members reportedly called Mrs Rhoda Ogofotha to ask if her husband had returned to Lagos. But their hearts sank when she informed them that he had not yet returned from the trip.

Her efforts to reach Sunday on the phone proved abortive, as his phones had been switched off since Friday evening — an unusual practice that raised some suspicion.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that Rhoda called her in-laws and informed them of what her husband had told her before they lost communication.

With this information, the family members went to Century Home Hotel to ask about Sunday’s whereabouts, but the hotel manager, Godwin Iboirode, claimed that he had checked out.

This prompted the family to leave the hotel in disappointment. However, they returned there again, this time with firm conviction that someone was hiding something.

Our correspondent gathered that when the Ogofotha family members re-visited the hotel, a heated argument erupted when they insisted on searching all the rooms — a suggestion which the hotel management allegedly tried to resist.

By this time, the case had attracted the intervention of the community vigilance group, which forcefully broke the door of a particular room and entered it to find a gory sight: Sunday’s dead body tied to the bed with multiple stab wounds.

Shocking confessions

When the case was reported to the Delta State Police Command, the hotel owner, Joseph Ogbole; the hotel manager, Iboirode; the security guard; and two other staff members were arrested.

An investigation revealed that Sunday had been murdered on Friday night, and his killers, alleged to be hotel staff, also took his ATM cards and withdrew money from his bank account the next day.

A source in the community alleged that the hotel had been a haven for suspected kidnappers and murderers.

“Pastor Sunday is not the only victim of their murder. Sometime last year, there was a story of a POS girl named Bethel who was said to have been killed in that hotel, too. Only God knows how many other people have innocently lodged there and fallen victim to them,” the source toldSaturday PUNCH.

In a video footage posted by Tony Talks Crime, a woman believed to be the wife of the security guard confessed that her husband had murdered the POS lady and buried her on the hotel premises.

According to her, her husband allegedly killed the lady because she accused him of using a fake alert to withdraw N10,000 from her account. Bethel was said to have recovered her money, but the man vowed to kill her in retaliation.

“My husband called her into the hotel; she is a friend of his. That day, he called her on the phone and took her into a room. It was around 7 pm one evening. I don’t know how he killed her because I was in our room. It was when he came out around midnight that he told me he had killed her,” she said.

In his confession, Iboirode, in a video posted on X by the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, on March 29, claimed that after Sunday lodged at the hotel on March 21, he was approached by two young men who wanted to see the cleric.

“One of them was dark-skinned, and the other was fair-skinned. They told me they wanted to take something from him (Sunday), and I said ‘okay.’ Later, the guys told me that when they collect the thing from the man, they would give me N5m.

“The dark-skinned guy, named Johnson, later came out of the room, but I didn’t see the fair-skinned one, named Clement, come out. After an hour had passed, I went to check the room. When I got to that particular room, I found out that the door had been locked with a padlock. Clement had left through the exit door inside the room that people could use to leave the building.

“Later, in the evening, I began to perceive some odour from the locked door. I knew the man inside was dead, and I was afraid. I decided to escape. I ran to a woman’s house to spend the night, and when it was morning, I came out to find out how the issue was. That was when the vigilantes and community boys attacked me,” he said.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the hotel was owned by Iboirode’s uncle, Oghole, who claimed to be unaware of his nephew’s criminal activities.

Oghole was said to have recruited Iboirode to help manage the hotel, but he was implicated by the community for complicity in Sunday’s murder, which ultimately led to the hotel being razed by angry residents.

Iboirode further disclosed, “I encountered Johnson and Clement before, around December last year, and they gave me N300,000. That time, they brought one girl to the hotel, but since that time, I have not seen the girl,” he added.

According to the police, a POS machine belonging to the girl believed to be Bethel was found in Iboirode’s house during a search initiated by detectives.

“Johnson was the one who handed over the POS machine to me. I don’t know whether it was the guy or the girl who owned the POS machine. But I can confirm that Sunday was murdered in his room by Clement and Johnson,” he added.

Edafe noted that the two suspects and the manager of the hotel have been apprehended, but they are still “investigating to unravel what eventually happened because, to the best of our knowledge, they have not given us the full details.”

The PPRO confirmed that Ogofotha was stabbed “multiple times until he died,” but “he was able to reach out to his wife to tell her where he was before they no longer heard from him. This is why information is vital; telling your loved ones where you are is key.”

Shallow graves in Anambra hotel

In January, another grisly discovery was made on the premises of Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites in Umueze, Anambra State, when more than 30 shallow graves were uncovered.

Decomposing bodies, expended live bullets, and shrines were also found by security operatives who raided and subsequently demolished the hotel situated in Oba Idemili in the North Central area of the state.

“It was a sad thing that the hotel was used for kidnapping and possibly ritual purposes. The upper floor of the facility had 30 partitions for curious use, as well as a shrine. And that is not your everyday hotel; certainly, no government or authority would have approved of such a use.

“Since it’s used for kidnapping operations, it’s automatically forfeited to the government, so that is the law that has been activated. I am not aware if the owner of the hotel has turned himself in to the police. If he did so, maybe today, but he has to answer for his activities. There is no way he can extricate himself from the criminal activities that were happening in the hotel when it was in use.

“We are disturbed and worried about this because it may not be the only facility where you can have such activity. In the last two or three weeks, several buildings used for kidnapping activities have been brought down,” the state Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, said.

Killed for ritual, others

As the story of the hotel murders in Delta and Anambra states spread across social media, there were different explanations for what the motive of the murder could have been.

“It is ritual killing,” Wisdom Ovie, a father of two, told our correspondent. “If you investigate, you will see that some of these hotels kill people for money rituals. This used to be more common in the 90s when they killed people in hotels and no one knew about their whereabouts. There was one like that in 1996, the Otokoto ritual killings in Owerri, Imo State.”

Infamous Otokoto killing

The Otokoto killing occurred on September 19, 1996, when an 11-year-old schoolboy and groundnut hawker, Anthony Okoronkwo, was drugged and killed by ‘money ritual’ murderers inside a hotel.

The young lad was reported to have been lured into the hotel by a gardener, Innocent Ekeanyanwu, who offered the boy a cold beverage and carried him into the hotel after he became unconscious.

The 11-year-old was said to have been decapitated, had his liver removed and penis severed. His dismembered body was allegedly buried within the hotel premises.

Gory murders

Like feral animals on a rampage for blood, so were the attackers of Olamide Akinolu, who eventually snuffed life out of him in November last year.

The unidentified individuals descended on the 30-year-old, who had gone to the hotel to meet a man to whom he had paid N50,000 to rent musical instruments in Wadoye, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

While the Ogun State Police Command did not disclose the motive behind the assault, sources told Saturday PUNCH that Akinolu began vomiting blood after the alleged attack.

“He sustained serious injuries and was taken to the hospital, where the doctor pronounced him dead. This prompted a group of people to organise an attack on the hotel.

“The hotel manager was injured, and several instruments were damaged during the violence. Our officers were dispatched to the scene to restore order. Meanwhile, the body has been taken to a mortuary in Olambe for examination and autopsy,” the state PPRO, Omolola Odutola, disclosed.

A year earlier, a similar incident had occurred in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, when the lifeless body of a graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Chinyere Awuda, was found abandoned near its swimming pool.

The 30-year-old was allegedly beaten to death on July 15 after she was accused of picking up money being sprayed during a birthday party at the hotel.

At her burial, the parents of the deceased, Mr and Mrs Patrick Awuda, lamented that their daughter died an “undeserved death.”

“She was our fifth child. The news of her sudden death came to us as a rude shock. We never expected that her promising life with a bright future would be cut short in such a manner.

“We heard that she was beaten to death by a group of boys, and her corpse was found near an abandoned swimming pool in the hotel where she went with her friends to celebrate someone’s birthday.

“Although the police said the autopsy proved she drowned, we believe she was killed as they have refused to release the CCTV footage of the incident. What can we do? We have left vengeance to God. We are going to miss our loving and caring daughter,” they said.

An unsolved murder

In a more bizarre incident in 2022, several suspects were arrested after a student from Delta State’s University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, Adegor Sophia, was found murdered in a hotel room.

Edafe said some management staff, including the hotel manager, had been arrested in connection with the death of the student.

According to the police, although Sophia’s body was not mutilated, her arms and legs were tied, indicating that she was alive when she was restrained.

About two months earlier, in the Federal Capital Territory, a 21-year-old lady, Esther Isaac, was also reportedly murdered in a hotel in the Gwarinpa area.

Esther’s brother, Emmanuel, in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, accused the police of humiliating him and alleged that the hotel management had tried to cover up the crime by claiming that their CCTV was faulty the day Esther lodged in the facility.

He said, “We live in Calabar, and I tried calling her two numbers and left her a message onWhatsApp, but she did not respond, which was unusual. I kept calling. Later, a police officer, Inspector Dajunma, picked up the call and told me my sister was dead.

“He asked me to come down to their division in Abuja. I was in Abuja the following day, and the police officers tried to work things out, but the hotel owner shouted at me.

“They asked if I had anyone, and I told them that it was myself and my late sister; we lost our parents a long time ago. They took advantage of my situation. Inspector Dajunma said maybe the case should be transferred to another place, so I left for Calabar. I came back to the station to ask for an update, but the police officers shouted at me.”

In her response, the FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, denied the allegation levelled against the police by the deceased’s brother.

“The allegation against us is wrong and unfair. The case is, however, under investigation,” Adeh said.

On November 5, 2021, an Abuja-based chartered accountant, Timothy Adegoke, travelled to Ile-Ife, Osun State, to write his Master of Business Administration examinations at the Obafemi Awolowo Distance Learning Centre.

Moments after he checked into Hilton Hotels and Resorts, a hotel owned by Dr Ramon Adedoyin, the father of three, placed a phone call to his wife to let her know he had arrived at his destination.

Unfortunately, that was the very last phone conversation Adegoke had with his wife.

On November 6, 2021, Adegoke’s wife repeatedly tried to reach the 37-year-old on the phone, but his calls were never answered.

Sensing that something was amiss with her husband’s silence, she alerted her in-laws. Two days after friends and family members could not reach Adegoke, and he was missing at the examination venue, he was declared missing.

After an intense search by the police, on November 15, 2021, the accountant’s lifeless body was found in a shallow grave very close to the Hilton Hotel and Resorts, where he had lodged.

After Adegoke’s body was exhumed, there were blood stains on different parts of his body. The shirt he wore was soaked in blood, and his shoulders and head were half-covered with a grey bed sheet.

The discovery subsequently led to the arrest of Adedoyin and six other staff members of the hotel.

Roheem, Adedoyin’s son, who also had a hand in Adegoke’s death, was identified as the fourth murderer. He is, however, still at large.

When the suspects were charged in court and the hearing began, one of the receptionists who was on duty on the night of the murder, Adesola Adedeji, narrated how the hotel management attempted to cover up Adegoke’s death.

While testifying before the court, Adedeji said that after the accountant was killed, she was instructed by Roheem, who was the managing director of the hotel at the time, to fabricate another receipt that would not reflect Adegoke’s name.

An autopsy report later revealed that Adegoke’s death was caused by severe haemorrhage secondary to severe traumatic injury.

After close to two years of intense court arguments, battles, and intrigues, Adedoyin, Aderogba, and Oyetunde were sentenced to death by hanging by the Osogbo High Court on May 30, 2023.

In January 2025, the Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, upheld the death sentence earlier handed out by the Osogbo High Court.

‘Murders rampant in remote areas’

The belief in money rituals – an occult economy in which money can be magically produced from ritual murders – is rife in Nigeria.

This has been said to be the motive behind some violent murders reported across the country.

However, a Clinical Haematologist, Timothy Brown, pointed out that if there were a string of killings taking place in hotels, it would have to be in seedy motels in remote towns or villages.

“These can’t be something happening in urban areas where many people are conscious of internet usage. In this age of the Internet, such crimes will quickly spread, and people who commit such things need secrecy.

“Again, for people to murder clients in hotels, there has to be more than one person involved. However, it would be more linked to organ harvesting rings,” he opined.

Meanwhile, a psychologist, Olubunmi Onipede, explained that some individuals are known as serial killers because they commit a series of murders over an extended period and often develop a method of selecting their victims.

“Many of these serial killers are psychopaths, and one can trace the roots of their condition back to early childhood. They may have witnessed extreme violence or suffered abuse or neglect, and these causes of trauma can lead to deep-seated psychological issues. These issues can manifest in violence and the urge to murder,” she noted.

Safety expert weighs in

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a safety and security expert, Stanley Ihakpe explained that people need to research hotels and check their websites, reviews, and ratings to assess their safety before lodging.

“Verify the hotel’s location and surroundings to ensure it’s in a safe area,” he advised. “For corporate organisations, a formal risk assessment must be carried out by the business’s safety and security team ahead of the visit by the employee, and the report must be reviewed by top management.

“This review will determine the risk rating of the hotel or range of hotels. For a responsible organisation, it is best to have a list of hotels that have been risk-assessed and considered safe for employees. This must be communicated to all relevant staff as an advisory before each trip.”

Ihakpe also advised people to avoid showing off expensive assets where possible and to always inspect their rooms.

“Check for any signs of damage, tampering, or suspicious activity, or even hidden cameras. Check that the door locks are working and functional. Store your valuables, such as your passport, cash, and jewellery, safely. It’s advisable not to leave these items on the table or the desk by the bed.

“If you are lodging in a hotel, use the deadbolt and chain lock to secure your door and don’t let strangers into your room. Be wary of unsolicited visitors. It’s also important that people are aware of their surroundings.

“People should also learn to report suspicious activity and try to recognise the names of hotel staff. Ask for their names during each engagement. This will help in properly addressing them and assist in facial recognition.”

Ihakpe also urged people who lodge in hotels to always inform friends and loved ones where they are.

“Do this immediately after you approach the front desk and make sure the hotel staff hear you describe the hotel,” he added.

Akinwunmi Adesina, the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), says internal investments within the continent are the only pathway to beating poverty.

Adesina spoke in an episode of BBC’s Focus on Africa podcast that aired on Wednesday.

Reacting to the “unprecedentedly large cuts” to foreign aid that rattled multiple sectors across Africa, Adesina said the impact proves that the continent does not need to rely on international donors.

“You can’t just rely on the benevolence of others,” he said.

“Benevolence is not a strategy; investment is a strategy. There is no substitute to actually hard-nosed investments in which you actually bring in private capital to unlock all of your assets.”

The AfDB president said it is crucial that the youth, who make up most of Africa’s population, invest their talents and skills in the continent rather than seek a future in foreign nations.

“We have to build highly competitive industrial value chains that we can trade among ourselves, that we can get the skills, and some of the people that are leaving will come back,” he said.

“So, if you’re investing in, for example, manufacturing lithium-ion precursor batteries in DRC Congo, it’s three times less than in the United States, Poland, or China.

“And so, when we build those chains, we retain talent, we attract talent. Our young people will do that, so if you want to create more jobs, build industries.

“When you export raw materials, that is the door to poverty.”

Reflecting on his two-term tenure as AfDB president, Adesina said he viewed his position as a mission to fast-track Africa’s progress.

Adesina is the eighth elected president of the AfDB.

He was first elected to the position on May 28, 2015, by the bank’s board of governors in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and was re-elected unanimously for a second five-year term on August 27, 2020.

Before his appointment at the AfDB, Adesina was Nigeria’s minister of agriculture from 2010 to 2015.

Adesina will conclude his tenure at the AfDB in September.

Families and colleagues of the 16 hunters who were killed in Uromi, Edo State, by a mob, have warned that they would revenge their deaths if the government fails to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the crime.

The victims were travelling from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Kano for the Sallah celebration when they were intercepted and lynched by some vigilantes on the suspicion that they were kidnappers.

The incident generated outrage across the country.

Most of the slain hunters hailed from Toranke in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State.

In separate interviews with Saturday PUNCH, the friends and families of the victims said only justice would assuage their hurt.

A community leader and hunter from Toranke, Alhaji Musa Dogo, said the government must bring the killers to book.

He said, “We cannot allow this to go unanswered. The hunters that were killed were our brothers. We trained together, fought criminals together, and protected our communities together. If the government does not arrest and publicly prosecute those responsible, we will take matters into our own hands. We know how to track down those who commit evil, and we will not hesitate if justice is not served,” he stated.

His companion, Bala Danburan, who sat with him, nodded in agreement.

Danburan said, “We know how to sneak into Uromi and take revenge ourselves if justice is not served. This is not a threat; it is a promise. We have buried too many of our own, and we cannot continue like this. We are hunters, not cowards. If the government refuses to act, we will do what is necessary.”

The hunters also demanded that the case be transferred to a Kano State court, citing a past case where the Kano State Government handed over a suspect, Yunusa Yellow, to the Bayelsa State Government over an alleged kidnapping.

“This is not just about us. If they could request for a case to be handled in their state, why can’t we demand the same? This is a matter of fairness. We want the case brought here, where we can follow it closely and ensure that it is not swept under the carpet. The Edo government must cooperate if they want peace,” Dogo said.

A hunter and resident of Bunkure, Alhaji Usman Bako, expressed anger over the killing of the 16 hunters.

According to him, the hunters were ambushed while returning to the north for the Sallah celebration.

Bako criticised the government for neglecting hunters and other local security outfits who risked their lives in the fight against banditry and kidnapping.

Alhaji Bako said, “If the government refuses to fish out and punish those behind this massacre and continues to ignore us, then they are pushing us to the wall. We may be forced to withdraw from joint operations. We will not continue to die in silence.”

He concluded by calling on the authorities to recognise hunters as frontline defenders of local communities.

Also speaking, a resident, Malam Sani Umar, said his younger brother, Yahaya Umar, was among those killed.

According to him, Yahaya left behind four children and a wife.

He said, “Yahaya was a man of courage, always willing to sacrifice himself for the safety of others. He believed in justice, and now he has been killed unjustly. We have been left with nothing but pain, and those who did this are still walking free. How can we accept this? How can we sleep knowing that the government has not acted?”

Fighting back tears, Hafsat Ibrahim, who lost her son, Nasiru, said, “Nasiru was the backbone of our family. Now, who will take care of us? He worked hard to ensure that his younger siblings attended school and that I never went hungry at the table.

“He was a man of dignity, a fearless hunter who sought only to protect his people. But now, he is gone, and we are left in darkness. We demand justice! The killers must be punished according to Islamic rites, and the government should compensate our families. That is the only way to show us that our loved ones did not die in vain.”

Acknowledging a recent condolence visit by the governors of Edo and Kano states, Umar said, “It gave us some relief knowing that they care about our plight.

“But a visit alone is not enough. We need real action. We need to see arrests. We need to see these people prosecuted and punished for what they did. If the government does not act swiftly, it means they are encouraging more of such killings. We are not just mourning our loved ones, we are demanding justice, and we will not stop until it is given.”

Tension in Sokoto

Meanwhile, there was palpable tension in Sokoto State on Friday over reports of protest over the killing of the hunters.

Our correspondent, who monitored the situation, gathered that most business areas occupied by non-indigenes, especially the Igbo, were locked up.

Most shops in Igbo-dominated areas in the metropolis, including Bello Way, Emir Yahya, Sahara, and Aliyu Jodi, were shut when Saturday PUNCH visited.

A shop owner, who identified himself simply as Chinedu, said the fear of attack forced him to lock up his shop.

He said, “We heard of the rumour of possible protest and attack by some youths in the state after Friday prayer, and we decided to take precautionary measures.

“One should not wait till something happens before we arrange ourselves, so we decided to close our shop.”

Also speaking on the closure, an Igbo man selling tyres in Sahara said the fear of looters made people close their shops immediately they heard of a possible attack.

The man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said his people decided to be proactive to avoid losing their goods to looters.

He said, “The last time they protested during late Deborah (Christian girl lynched for blasphemy) issue, they used the opportunity to attack and loot our goods, so we decided to be proactive this time.”

But the police reaffirmed readiness to ensure the safety of lives and property of the people in the state.

The spokesman for the Sokoto command, Ahmed Rufai, while speaking with our correspondent, said the command had deployed men in every part of the metropolis to maintain law and order in the state.

Community deserted

As of Friday, the area where the lynching took place, Goodwill Junction, along Old Ilushi Road, Uromi, was still deserted as residents were afraid of being arrested by the police.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that most commercial motorcyclists avoided the area, just as shops, churches and residential buildings in the area remained locked.

A middle-aged man who gave his name as John said the area had been deserted since the killing took place, stating that residents were afraid of being arrested by the police or facing reprisal.

He said, “This area has been deserted. You can see that all the houses are shut as no one wants to risk being arrested by the police. I hear the case has now been transferred to Abuja, so those arrested are being taken to Abuja.

“The killing is unfortunate, but what kidnappers and killer herders are doing to indigenes is evil. Imagine getting killed on your farm; hoodlums kidnapping you in the presence of your wife and children.

“I hope the government will use the same zeal and determination it is employing to fish out killers of the travellers to go into the forest and expel killer herders and kidnappers who have turned Edo forest to their permanent residence.”

The Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Fred Itua, said Governor Monday Okpehbolo was working hard to ensure that all the security challenges he inherited would soon become a thing of the past.

Itua noted that the amount to be paid as compensation to families of the hunters would be made public when finalised.